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The three restaurants on the Strip co-owned by disgraced chef Mario Batali closed over the weekend, a full five days before parent company B&B Hospitality anticipated locking the doors.
Batali’s business partner Joe Bastianich announced that three of the duo’s restaurants would close back in May when he sent a letter to employees at Carnevino at the Palazzo, B&B Ristorante at the Venetian, and Otto Enoteca e Pizzeria at the Grand Canal Shoppes. At the time, Bastianich said Venetian/Palazzo parent company Sands Corp. decided to end the leases for the three restaurants, which employ almost 300.
The downfall of Batali started last December when an Eater investigation revealed multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Soon after, Batali stepped away from his Italian restaurant empire. The celebrity chef, who appeared on The Chew, which was cancelled, admitted at the time that “much of the behavior described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted.”
The Factory Kitchen of out Los Angeles already announced plans to take over the B&B Ristorante space with a Northern Italian restaurant later this year.
At least 18 women accused Batali of inappropriate touching and the New York Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation regarding those allegations of sexual assault. His behavior, as well as that of his business partner Joe Bastianich, allegedly fostered a “boys’ club” culture, multiple former staffers have said. Batali is now in the process of divesting from about two dozen restaurants across the country. The final contract to remove Batali from financial ownership is now expected to be completed by the end of the month.
Batali also has a stake in Eataly, opening at the Park MGM later this year.
Updated: The restaurant and Italian market will move forward under the Eataly banner.
• Mario Batali’s Three Las Vegas Restaurants Close This Summer [ELV]
• Mario Batali Faces New Sexual Misconduct Allegations [ELV]
• Mario Batali Divesting from His Restaurant Empire [ELV]
• NYPD Is Investigating Mario Batali for Sexual Misconduct Allegations [ENY]
• Every Restaurant and Bar That Closed in Las Vegas in 2018 [ELV]
